At St. Timothy (L-R) Children: (L-R) Joseph Seara, Liana Lopez, Lilly Enriquez, Christian Barrenechea, Ariana Gonzalez. Adults - (L-R) St. Timothy Principal Joann Leskanic, Commercebank Technical Support Center Manager Amado Cruz and Steve Padron, Support Level 1 - Commercebank.

Business News 

COMMERCEBANK:  The privately owned Commercebank has recently donated over 60 computers to local schools and charities. Computers for Community is a program that looks for schools and charities that don’t have funding for technology and equips them with several computers.

“We at Commercebank are continuously striving to help our community in any way that we can,” said Tere Benach, senior vice president of sales and marketing. “Because well-equipped computers are costly and scarce in some schools and charity organizations, we felt that donating quality computers would be both beneficial and much appreciated.”

Some of the local schools and charities that have received computers from Commercebank are St. Timothy Learning Center, Sister Carolyn Learning Center, Weston’s Chancellor Beacon Charter School, Little Haiti Housing Organization and Centro Campesino, The Academy for Better Communities, Universal Truth and HOPE.

LOBSTER:  Les Deux Fontaines Restaurant announced that it now offers a wide selection of lobster from Maine and Florida. The restaurant has long been known for selling fish and shellfish. It will continue to serve customers its capacious, three-tier shellfish platters. But customers will now also have the opportunity to choose their own delicacies which include dishes like steamed-roasted lobster with its garnish, lobster burger, lobster roll, lobster salad, lobster ceviche and lobster cake. Samples will be available from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. For information, call 305-672-7878 ext. 105 and mention lobster sample night.

VCA GRANTS:  The Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority (VCA) awarded $343,000 in grants as part of its Tourism Advancement Grants Program.

Nine projects were awarded in accordance with the VCA’s tourism advancement goal of stimulating awareness of Miami Beach, making it a unique year-round tourist destination through the support and implementation of outstanding initiatives and events.

Financial support was granted to the following events taking place between October 1 and December 31: Herald Hunt by the Miami Herald, 2003-2004 Miami Beach Rowing Series by the Miami Beach Watersports Center, Bienal Miami and Beach by the FIU School of Architecture, Muscle Beach/White Party by Care Resource. Special projects included Art Basel in Miami Beach, the FedEx Orange Bowl Marketing Campaign and the MTV Video Music Awards Latin America.

The VCA is currently accepting applications for third quarter grants for work that takes place between April 1 and June 30. For more information, call 305-673-7050.

ADOPTION: The North Dade Chamber of Commerce has adopted two local families who will join its members for a special holiday celebration at the Holiday Inn Calder at 21485 MW 27 Avenue, Miami Gardens on Wednesday, December 3, from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.  “Our goal is to ensure that each child receives a toy and/or gift for the holidays,” states a North Dade Chamber e-mail. For more information or to give support e-mail Frank Johnson at frank@mail.dsli.com

RIVIERA: R. Donahue Peebles, president of the Peebles Atlantic Development Corporation, won a bid to redevelop a 10 acre oceanfront site owned by the City of Rivera Beach on Palm Beach County’s Singer Island.

“We are very excited about this project and working with the City of Riviera Beach,” Peebles said.  “We know our project will greatly assist Riviera Beach’s quest to become a world-renowned tourist destination.”

The City of Riviera Beach Community Redevelopment Agency voted four to one on November 13 to award the project development rights to the PADC to create a $300 million luxury resort that includes a 330 unit condo-hotel tower, a 440 unit condominium, 70,000 square feet of retail and convention space and a 1,900 space parking facility.

Movers-n-Shakers

 
Melissa Arnold

NEW TEAM MEMBER: Melissa Frantz & Associates, an event marketing, fund raising and public relations firm responsible for the upcoming South Beach Taste of the Beach Fest, announces the recent hiring of Melissa Arnold as the company’s director of sales and marketing.  Arnold will be in charge of account management, creative development and execution of promotions, media buying and new business development.

Arnold’s credentials includes stints with Columbia Records and Billboard Magazine. Additionally, in her role as a publicist with Katherine Schenker & Associates, Melissa has been involved in publicity efforts on behalf of artists such as Bette Midler, Sting and Diana Ross.

Most recently, Arnold was an account executive with Clear Channel’s WMGE/WMIB, where she serviced Frantz & Associates’ 2003 World of Beer Festival, predecessor to the upcoming FAB Fest 2004.

“Melissa is the ideal addition to our team,” said company president Melissa Frantz.  “As the demand for our services grows, her unique combination of high-profile experiences, contacts and talents will benefit our clients immeasurably.”

Miami Shores-based Melissa Frantz & Associates is an event marketing, fund raising and public relations firm established in 2000.  The company assists non-profit organizations in diversify their funding sources through the introduction of corporate partnering, membership programs and special events.

CHRISTMAS DINNER:  Edgar Leal, a local executive chef and owner of Cacao Restaurant in Coral Gables, will prepare a Chocolate Lover’s Christmas Dinner at the prestigious James Beard Foundation in New York City on December 18.

The first course will consist of a sweet chile consommé and brunoise of Peruvian salsa fria. The second course will feature octopus and yellow potato napoleon with olives and parsley oil. More Latin American courses are included. For those who cannot attend the New York City event, the Chocolate Lover’s Christmas Dinner will be available at Cacao from December 15 to the 20^th. Price is $110 per person including wine. For reservations and information call 305-445-1001. 

HEALTHCARE SEMINAR:  Jorge Freeland, partner of the Domestic Corporate and Securities Department in the Miami office of White & Case LLP, took part in a recent seminar presented by the Florida Venture Forum Inc.: Trends in Early Stage Venture Funding – Healthcare and Life Sciences Sectors. The seminar took place on November 19 at the Fort Lauderdale Airport Hilton in Dania Beach.

“As a board member of the Florida Venture Forum Inc, White & Case appreciates any opportunity to work with the organization in continuing to bring venture capital to Florida-based companies,” Freeman said in a press release. “Ideally, these types of educational and interactive programs will contribute to a growing and more robust economy statewide.”

The program was designed to cover issues related to early stage venture investing as well as trends and forecasts.    

NEW MARKETING ASSISTANT:  Classic Residence by Hyatt in Aventura announced that Alexandra Villamizar is the new marketing assistant for the senior life community company. Prior to joining Classic Residence, Villamizar was the assistant manager for Tunis, a high-end clothing boutique in Winter Park, Florida. She received her associate’s degree in business administration from Valencia Community College and her bachelor’s in marketing and finance from Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Florida. Columbian-born Villamizar is fully bilingual and will serve as a liaison between prospective residents and the community. She will also support the sales staff and the director of sales.